Goking backs drive vs fake business permits

The City Council committee on trade and commerce chaired by Councilor Goking yesterday discussed the reported issuance of fake Business Permits following a joint entrapment operation last May 3, 2023 in Barangay Nazareth, this city.

The accused perpetrator is a female who is now detained while the other suspects remain at large. It was learned that operatives from Police Station 4 Carmen and Police Station 9 Nazareth together with Land Transportation Office personnel conducted an entrapment operation resulting to the arrest of the suspect. Her husband evaded the arrest and brought with him the marked money. Recovered during the operation were different kinds of falsified documents and computer sets, including a printer used by the suspects.

Councilor Goking said this illegal activity is a form of economic sabotage wherein a business operator instead of paying 1 Million in business taxes will only pay 300. City DILG Director Engr. Jane J. Docallos urged for the use of technology to have an accurate and timely database system.

For his part, Councilor Malvern A. Esparcia suggested empowering ordinary citizens to identify and check on business permits. He added that incentive be given to anybody who will report to the proper authorities any illegal activity. The Revised Penal Code provides that persons found to have engaged in the production of fictitious documents shall be meted with a higher penalty for such an offense. Oro Chamber President Raymundo G. Talimio proposed that City Hall should embark on geographical tagging to address the problem of fake business permits. This is advantageous as it locates immediately the location of business establishments, he said. Goking said a formal case will be filed by the proper authorities against the suspect.